An Ofrenda is a home altar with a collection of objects placed on a ritual display created for an individual person. The objects on the altar represent the person they are honoring.

“I chose the Ofrenda because it was a great hands-on project for every student to experience National Hispanic Heritage Month and was an opportunity for our English Language Learner students to instill pride in and share their heritage and culture,” Grossnickle said. “The project helped students make connections with one another and realize we are more alike than we are different.”

While working on their `, students could be heard making comments like, “your grandma likes Pepsi, too” or “oh my dad liked that team, too” and “my mom was in the army like your grandpa.”

The students not only connected with each other, but it gave them an opportunity to connect with their families to learn more about the person they chose to honor.

-Submitted photo
Students at Duncombe Elementary School show the Ofrendas they created.

“It was heartwarming for me to watch students get to know more about the person they were honoring,” Grossnickle said, “especially for the students who had lost someone early in their life or for students who had not met the person before.”

It was important to Grossnickle that the students present the projects to their families. This was accomplished via a Zoom meeting where each student stood in front of their classmates and a computer camera and microphone so that family could watch the presentations.

“I wanted the parents to see their child’s finished Ofrenda because it was truly a family-based project,” said Grossnickle. “The students collected information about the person they were honoring by having that first conversation at home. It was an excellent opportunity to engage families in their child’s learning.”

-Submitted photo
Several of the Ofrendas the students created are displayed.